Coral Reefs: A valuable ecosystem in jeopardize
Note: this title may change

Tropical marine and coral reef ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrasses, are vulnerable environmental resources that provide significant economic goods and services and contribute to the livelihoods, food security and safety of millions of people around the world. The health of these resources is critical to human well-being. By accounting for coastal marine and coral reef ecosystem values in management decisions, we can sustain their flow of goods and services in the interest of current and future generations.
Recognizing the importance of economic valuations, the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) secretariat with the government of Japan would like to organize a side event on this topic.
During the event, we may focus on the following ecosystem goods and services:
* Fisheries: Coral reefs and their surrounding ecosystems, including mangroves and seagrass beds, provide important fish habitat.
* Biodiversity: coral reefs as among the most biologically rich ecosystems on earth, with about 4,000 species of fish and 800 species of reef-building corals described to date.
* Tourism: People the world over visit coral reefs to enjoy the recreational opportunities that these ecosystems provide, including SCUBA diving, snorkeling, and glass-bottom-boat viewing.
* Coastal protection: Coral reefs serve as natural barriers to storm surges that can cause great destruction to coastlines and communities.
* Carbon sequestration: Coral reefs remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and are thus important for the mitigation of global warming.
It is also important to note the government of Japan will be presenting the ICRI Regional Strategy on MPA networks to support countries in the region to enhance MPA network efforts, that Japan is currently developing.